Railfan Trip to West Virgina and Pennsylvania - 4

Hi, Friday, April 23 was the last day for Jim Kleeman and I to photograph the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg RR as we would be going home that afternoon. Once again we left our hotel early. 

When we arrived at Orion Engineered Carbons a few minutes after 6:00 AM the crew was already switching. 

By 6:35 AM they were ready to head north. 

We just had time to set up at the N. C. Trout concrete plant south of the Gravel Place Industrial Park.

While the crew worked in the industrial park we moved north to Marietta, OH for another street running angle. 

We continued to follow the train north getting photos at Oak Grove, OH (above and below),

Rainbow, OH (above and two below) and

Lowell, OH.

before the train arrived at Relief, OH where once again it switched Globe Metallurgical's plant (above and below).

When Job 1 left Relief we were able to photograph it just north of Waterford, OH,

at Rainbow, OH (above and below),

coming through Marietta, OH (above and below) and

passing the N. C. Trout Cement Company.

Our final photograph of the trip was from the Parkersburg Transit Center parking garage roof.

It was a great trip. Thanks for looking.

 

Railfan Trip to West Virginia and Pennsylvania - 3

Hi, We were up very early again on Thursday, April 22 in anticipation of the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad Job 1 going to Relief, OH. After checking out the yard we crossed into Ohio and headed north hoping to find the crew switching at Orion Engingeered Carbon. However, shortly after passing Orion we encountered Job 1 heading south, returning to their yard in West Virginia. It wasn't even 6 AM and they were finished.

We crossed back into Parkersburg and were able to beat the train to the end of the Ohio River bridge at Avery Street. Time 6:13 AM. Time to return to the motel for breakfast.

As we did not expect Job 3 to go on duty until the afternoon and we had information that CSX coal train N759 was headed our way we drove up to St Marys, WV to wait. At 8:20 AM the coal train trundled down 2nd Street (above and below).

We gave chase and easily beat the train to Waverly, WV and

Williamstown, WV where it again ran down 2nd Street (above and below).

While N759 changed crews we drove up to an overlook in Fort Boreman Park in Parkersburg for this view of the coal train leaving town (above and below).

After lunch we found Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Job 3 and were just able to set up for a shot from the Transit Center parking structure. Note, it is possible and desirable to get higher.

We spent the remaineder of the day in the vicinity of the Point Park and Flood Wall. First up was a long CSX westbound local. The train is on the same trestle as the coal train shown above.

Finally, just short of 6 PM Job 3 got their transfer out of the CSX yard (above and two below).

Thanks for looking.
 

Railfan trip to West Virginia and Pennsylvania - 2

Hi, On Tuesday, April 20, Jim and I were at the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad yard by 6 AM. We quickly spotted all of the railroad's then four units sitting outside the CSX office (BIP leases this yard from CSX but not the buildiong). So we sat there awaiting the arrival of the crew and nothing happened. Finally, about 8:00 AM or so we gave up. Since there is very little other activity in this area we had some breakfast and headed for Meyersdale, PA. After lunch in Meyersdale we moved on to Sand Patch.

Soon after our arrival at Sand Patch Q151 showed up with a one locomotive on the point and one DPU.

Shortly after Q151 cleared Q138 came east. Again there was one on the point (above) although in this case the DPU was on the rear (below).

We almost missed this eastbound stack train. We spotted it as we were passing under the former Western Maryland Keystone viaduct westbound and we were able to turn around and beat the train to Mance.

This train also had a DPU on the rear.

We drove down to Hyndman, PA and were surprised when Q138 showed up. We never did see the stack train we photographed at Mance again.

The remaineder of the afternoon was spent at Fairhope. First up was this train of wesbound coal empties

followed by Q135 and

Q217.

On Wednesday, April 21, we caught an eastbound intermodal off the former Western Maryland Salisbury Viaduct west of Meyersdale. PA. Both Salisbury and Keystone Viaducts are part of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. As the weather was cold and windy with periods of light rain at this point we headed back to Parkersburg where we found nothing happening in more poor weather.

In some ways the east slope of Sand Patch grade was disappointing. Access was limited by the many fences CSX has erected and in other places foliage had grown up significantly.

Thanks for looking.